The study of organizations has been dominated by administrative, economic and performative concerns. The contributors of this book acknowledge the impact of Robert Cooper on their own work and develop further his insistence that organizational analysis must be understood in terms of the rationalization of society as a whole. Amongst the contributors are many experts in organizational theory. Chapters cover a wide area of interest, including organizational science and post-modernism, the logics of organizing and instrumental experience. In doing so, the book departs from an emphasis on "organizations" as social objects and moves towards a position of analysis which situates itself in the wider context of the late modernity. It should be valuable reading for students across a range of disciplines, including sociology, management and organizational behaviour as well as political studies. It should also be of interest to all professionals who desire to have a better understanding of organizational society and of the future direction of organizational studies.

Organized Worlds locates the study of organization within the wider area of social theory. It explores in detail the intricate relationships that exist between technology, representation and organization. The collection includes a chapter from the leading expert in the field, Robert Cooper, as well as an interview with him. Other contributors build upon and extend the findings of Cooper. This is a companion volume to In the Realm of Organization.

Full Contributors:
Robert Chia, University of Essex, UK, Robert Cooper, Keele University, UK, Ron Day, Athenian School in Danville, California, USA, John Law, Keele University, UK, Nick Lee, Keele University, UK, Annemarie Mol, University of Twente, The Netherlands, Richard Sotto, University College Ronneby, Sweden.

This book breaks new ground, departing from an emphasis on 'organisations' as social objects and moving towards a position of analysis which situates itself in the wider context of the late modernity. The contributors of this book acknowledge the impact of Robert Cooper on their own work and develop further his insistence that organisational analysis must be understood in terms of the rationalization of society as a whole.

What is the relationship between philosophy and organization theory (OT)? While at first glance there might appear to be little, a closer look reveals a rich pattern of connections. More than any other type of human inquiry, philosophy helps make us self-aware of critical assumptions we tacitly incorporate in our organizational theorizing; it creates a deeper awareness of the 'unconscious metaphysics' underpinning our efforts to understand organizations. This volume includes papers that explore connections between several streams in philosophy and OT. As the titles of the papers suggest, most authors write about a particular philosopher or group of philosophers that make up a distinct school of thought, summarize important aspects of his/their work, and tease out the implications for OT. The central question authors explore is: 'what does a particular philosophy contribute to OT?' Either addressing this question in historical or exploratory terms, or in a combination of both, the end result is similar: particular philosophical issues, properly explained, are discussed in relation to important questions in OT.